MR. HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
TITHING:
Review of Principles
and
Update of Policies
I
Ministerial Conference January 1973
It is vitally important that all ministers teach what God teaches about tithing. Based on God's Laws, God's Church must have a standard worldwide policy, thus assuring unified and consistent application.
The broad principles of tithing must be defined from the Bible and coordinated from Headquarters. Likewise, all matters of judgment based on these tithing principles must also be biblically founded and clearly spelled out from Pasadena. Such serious decisions must not be left to individuals in order that uniformity and consistency will be maintained throughout God's Church.
The following are overall guidelines prepared by Mr. Armstrong and the Evangelists for God's ministry. Individual ministers must make judgmental decisions based on these principles.
In practical fact, God's Laws are straightforward and simple.
The Basic Principles of Tithing;
Tithe on the Increase Received from Productive Effort
Every human being who earns an increase is required to tithe. God owns everything (Psalm 24:1; Haggai 2:8, etc.) -- and He therefore requires that we return to Him, for His Work, 10% of all our increase (Genesis 14:20, 28:22; Numbers 18; Hebrews 7). God's Law applies to all people, Israelite and non-Israelite, converted and unconverted.
Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong specifically wrote: tithe on 'increase' — we define 'increase' as what we receive as a result of our productive effort (This "productive effort" is most often our own individual personal productive effort. In the case of collective or group effort, either the group must tithe as a whole or each individual must tithe on his or her share.)
(We note that the term "productive effort" has a very broad range, including capital gains from property, dividends from stocks, interest from bank accounts, etc.)
Where the Responsibility Lies:
With the Earner, Not the Receiver
All wealth — all material goods and money — was produced and earned at some point by someone through personal productive effort. That person — the one who actually produced the goods or earned the money — is the one responsible before God for the tithe on that increase.
Anyone who receives a gift or inheritance — material goods or money earned or produced by someone else — is not responsible to pay tithes on what he receives. He is not concerned about whether tithes had ever been paid on the goods or money. It is not his responsibility — he need not tithe. (He should, of course, be willing to give an offering according to how God has blessed him. More on offerings later.)
Gifts and Inheritances: No Tithes Necessary
Since Mr. Armstrong has judged, on the basis of the intent of the tithing law, that increase comes only as a result of "productive effort," it is clear that there is no command to tithe on gifts and inheritances. (Again, generous, cheerful offerings show our appreciation and are very pleasing to God.)
As an example, a man inherits $10,000. It did not come from his own; personal productive effort. (He should, however, give an offering — with the man himself allowed to decide the amount.) If the man invests any part of the $10,000, he must tithe on the earnings and/or the capital gains from the investment.
To illustrate the latter, suppose the same man invests $5,000 of the $10,000 in stocks. (He must, of course, always tithe on the dividends earned each year.) Now suppose the value of the stock increases to $8,000 in two years and the man decides to sell out -- what does he pay tithes on? Not his original $5,000 which he inherited — but the capital gained through his own effort.- $8,000 - $5,000 = $3,000. An individual tithes only on the increase earned through his own personal productive effort.
As another example, a woman receives a gift of an auto, since she expended NO productive effort, she does not tithe. (See principle of offerings!)
[Third Tithe, Welfare, Social Security]
Pensions, Union Funds etc.:No Tithes Necessary
The same overall principle can now be applied to all other types of welfare-type income or regular assistance programs. When no productive effort on the part of the recipient has been involved, no tithes are required. There are no tithes required on any of the above.
Other sources of income in this same category on which there is no necessity to tithe are unemployment and disability insurance, Medicare, veterans benefits, accident compensation, court settlements, child support, etc.
Since there are so many multitudinous variations of these types of assistance programs, in order to avoid letter-of-the-law technicalities, Mr. Armstrong has judged that tithes will not be required on any of them. (This enables the recipient to freely and thankfully give offerings as he is able.)
Mercy and Forgiveness:
[No Tithes on Accumulated Assets]
When a person comes to a knowledge of the truth (which includes tithing), he is not required to tithe on things acquired before this time. Thus exempted from tithes are all liquid and fixed assets at the time of conversion: all cash, stocks, bonds, businesses, properties, personal possessions, etc. No tithes are required on the capital (the "lump sum"), but tithes are, of course, to be paid on the increase (interest, dividends, rents, profits, etc.) from that time forth.
For example, if a person has a piano, painting, etc. at the time of his conversion and then, two years later, sells it for $50 or $5,000, no tithes are required. (Naturally, the greater one's personal assets, the greater the opportunity to serve God and His Work through voluntary offerings.)
However, when such possessions are a source of revenue to the individual — his business or a means of investment — he must tithe on the increase, or the capital gains, accrued from the time of conversion. An art dealer, for example, should have his paintings appraised so that he might accurately determine his increase whenever he should decide to sell any specific work.
The Blessings of Life:
Freewill Offerings to God
As we have seen, God has led Mr. Armstrong to conclude that there is no required tithe on many varieties of money and goods. This all the more puts the responsibility of service to God on the conscious volition of the individual. When no tithes are required, an individual's true relationship with God is put to the test.
God doesn't want people constantly worried about their precise tithing "obligations." Freely and cheerfully He has given, and so freely and cheerfully He wants His people to give.
We receive many things in our lives apart from the direct productive efforts of our own minds and hands. These are the "blessings of life" — and God just isn't all that concerned about charging for them. But God does appreciate seeing the same attitude in us. Not "Get." But "GIVE"! God has given to us — now we must learn to give to God. It's a process of "reciprocal give" — without the artificial obedience of absolute dictation and initiative-sapping regimentation. There is no better way to express it than Deutereonomy 16:17:
"Each of you shall bring such a gift as he can in proportion to the blessing which the Lord your God has given you." (New English Bible)
"Every man must offer what he can afford, according as the Eternal your God has made you prosper." (Moffatt)
God wants us to show our love for Him, His Work, His humanity, and His world. He wants us to go above and beyond (Luke 17:10).
God wants us to consider our blessings in life —-and then give to Him accordingly, as Paul expresses in II Corinthians 9:6-7:
"Mark this: He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and he who sows generously will reap a generous harvest. Everyone is to give what he has made up his mind to give: There is to be no grudging or compulsion about it. For God loves the giver who gives cheerfully.
(Moffatt)
"All I shall say is that poor sowing means a poor harvest, and generous sowing means a generous harvest. Let everyone give as his heart tells him, neither grudgingly nor under compulsion, for God loves the man who gives cheerfully." (Phillips)
Just doing "our [begrudging] duty" on a gift or inheritance would not develop anywhere near as much character or show anywhere near as much love as giving when it is not required. Oftentimes, an offering of considerably more than 10% can be appropriately and judiciously made. But this is entirely up to the individual!
Balance in giving must always be stressed. Some could conceivably give more than they should — possibly depriving their family of some essential commodities. God wants us to develop character by learning to be liberal in our support of His Work — cheerfully going over and above the tithes that He requires -- without losing balance. As Moffatt put it, "he is not asked to give what he has not got." (II Corinthians 8:12)
In practical fact, the principle of giving offerings on the blessings of life enables a person to express his own relationship with his Creator and Benefactor -- to show his love for God and zeal for His Work.
MR. HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
TITHING:
Review of Principles
and
Update of Policies
II
Ministerial Conference January 1973
Tithing for the Wage Earner:
Ten Percent of Gross Income
A wage earner must calculate all his tithes as ten percent of his gross income.
In certain circumstances, specific deductions can be made to generate an "adjusted gross income" on which tithes are paid. These deductions would include expenses needed for on-the-job travel — such as gasoline — if the company or employer did not reimburse the individual (e.g. many traveling salesmen). This on-the-job travel, remember, does not include the normal travel to and from the job.
Salary deductions — all taxes, welfare, insurance, pensions, etc. — are, not to be deducted. Also items such as uniforms, tools and union dues are not to be deducted.
In countries where tithes and offerings cannot be deducted from the income for tax purposes, and/or in countries with extremely high tax rates, there is still some question as to what really is an individual's "adjusted gross income." Further study will be made on the issue.
The Second Tithe:
Doctrine and Practical Application
Mr. McCullough is preparing a Good News article, which will thoroughly cover all aspects of second tithe. It will be based on the principles discussed and the decisions reached by Mr. Armstrong and the Evangelists — and the article will be submitted to them for editing and approval.
The Third Tithe:
Doctrine and Practical Application
Dr. Hoeh is preparing a Good News article which will thoroughly cover all aspects of third tithe. It too will be based on the principles discussed and the decisions reached by Mr. Armstrong and the Evangelists — and, likewise, the article will be submitted to them for editing and approval.
Stolen Tithes:
Repentance Is The Key
If a person has not paid his tithes, he has, in effect, stolen those tithes from God.
"May man defraud God, that you defraud me? You ask, 'How have we defrauded thee?' Why, in tithes and contributions." (Malachi 3:8, New English Bible)
"Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? You have withheld your tithes and offerings." (Malachi 3:8, Amplified Bible)
Whether he voluntarily admits it or whether he was caught, the critical issue is whether the man or woman is really repentant.
If a person is really repentant, he is under the blood of Jesus Christ and is forgiven. God has totally forgiven him — and so must we! (The person's repentance is at least partially indicated by his desire to give especially generous offerings in recognition of his having stolen tithes in the past.)
If a person is NOT repentant, treat him as a thief and put him out of the Church.
(If a person has actually stolen money and/or properties [i.e. petty theft] directly from the Church, from an individual in the Church, or someone not in the Church, he must be willing to pay it back in full. Of course, any case of larceny or grand larceny must be reported to the civil authorities.)
Splitting the Tithable Income:
To Preserve A Converted - Unconverted Marriage
In a situation where a man in the Church has an antagonistic mate, he is allowed to consider, for the purpose of tithing, that his wife is entitled to half of his income. This means that the man will pay all three tithes, offerings, etc. on one-half of his income.
Christian Woman with an Unconverted Husband: Tithe or Don't Work — Unless Essential for the Family
The following are guidelines for situations where a workingwoman in the Church has an antagonistic husband who demands that she not tithe.
The woman is commanded to tithe on her income. She could quit work, otherwise she must tithe on her income otherwise she would be stealing from God. Exception: If the woman is required to work to supplement her husband's because of children or absolute family necessity - her income may be considered as not her money, but family income, since the husband has authority. But she should tithe even here IF her husband does not object.
Overall Guidelines:
In Individual Cases, Ministers Must Make Judgmental Decisions Based on the Foregoing Principles